MCC ex-boss David Jones’ secret mancave scores big payday
Inside the warehouse at 116 Green St, Cremorne, that hosted the impressive collection of rare cars.
A Cremorne warehouse where former Melbourne Cricket Club president David Jones displayed his lifetime’s collection of classic cars and memorabilia has revved to a $2.2m sale.
Mr Jones’ family put the property on the market following his death in February and it went under the hammer earlier this week.
It’s good news for the remainder of the 750 auctions scheduled across Victoria this week, according to PropTrack.
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Aside from his time at the cricket club’s helm, Mr Jones served as gaming and lottery giant Tattersall’s chairman and for nine years as the Moomba Festival’s chairman.
He was also an ex-Victorian Chamber of Commerce director and a Rotary Club of Melbourne long-term member and past president.
The avid car collector’s warehouse at 116 Green St showcased a 1972 Ferrari Dino GT, 1955 MG Roadster, circa-1913 ‘6-666’ number plate and collectibles such as vehicle parts.
Commercial real estate agency Colliers Melbourne director Ben Baines said the cars and other items would be sold separately by Donington Auctions on July 12 and 13.
“A lot of groups asked us if they could purchase both the property and memorabilia,” Mr Baines said.
The warehouse features high ceilings, roller door access and concrete flooring.
The property is a car enthusiast’s dream on the inside.
However, the 290sq m warehouse itself turned out to be popular with buyers after six bidders contested Thursday’s auction.
“The majority of those parties were looking to have something similar to what Mr Jones had,” Mr Baines said.
A local owner-occupier snapped up the warehouse that was listed with circa-$2m price hopes.
Mr Baines said the sale demonstrated the strength of Cremorne and Richmond’s commercial market, which has seen increased demand since the Reserve Bank’s rate cuts earlier this year.
“A lot of that demand has been from interstate and international buyers as well,” Mr Baines added.
David Jones at the MCG in 2003. He served as the Melbourne Cricket Club’s president from 2003 to 2007, plus spent 19 years on the club’s committee.
The late Governor of Victoria John Landy, David Jones, then-Premier Steve Bracks and MCG Trust chair John Wylie at the unveiling of the MCG Tapestry, by artist Robert Ingpen, in 2004.
Fellow listing agent, Teska Carson director Matthew Feld, said that the warehouse was one of the best he had seen hit the local market for some time.
“We had expected it to generate strong interest,” he said.
Donington Auctions’ website states that the 1972 Ferrari GT Dino Coupe is expected to sell for a sum between $800,000 to $1m, with bids starting at $400,000.
The ‘6-666’ number plate is estimated to fetch $350,000 to $400,000, with bids starting at $80,000.
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